Churches asked not to flout lockdown rules

Our Correspondent
Kohima, 30 (EMN): Church leaders have expressed dismay over some churches in Kohima and elsewhere in the state flouting Covid-19 norms and congregating at a time when the state along with the rest of the country are facing an unprecedented second wave of Covid-19.

Eastern Mirror reached out to some church leaders on Sunday to learn what they had to say on church activities, which have allegedly been going on despite the directives issued by the government to avoid any form of social gathering.

Rev. Dr. V Atsi Dolie, executive director of Angami Baptist Church Council (ABCC) while speaking to this newspaper affirmed that the directives issued by the government should not be “violated” by congregating in churches at these trying times.

‘It is a human problem and not a denominational affair this time nor about denominational likes or dislikes over worship pattern,’ he said, adding that it is wrong to think that ‘one church is more spiritual so that they could violate all the government directives and gather in the church.’

“I think that is very wrong reasoning,” he remarked, stating, “It is not a spiritual contest”.

Expressing pain over some church leaders who passed away with Covid complications recently, Dolie reminded to observe social distancing and avoid mass gathering as the situation is not favourable for holding services. “I believe all of us must follow the government’s directives in these trying times,” he said.

Meanwhile, he informed that necessary directives have been given to all the constituent churches in and around the state capital as well as the rural areas in the district not to congregate at the moment while the situation looks grim. “As far as my churches are concerned under ABCC, I have given a very clear directive and I believe that they are following that directive,” he claimed.

He also expressed fear that once Covid crisis reaches the ill-equipped rural areas, the situation will become worse. “So we are keeping vigilant about that even in the matters of church services,” he maintained. “Kohima and Dimapur in some ways have facilities but it is very dangerous once Covid reaches to the interior parts of the rural areas, which do not have even the basic facilities,” Dolie said.

“I have given the directive even to the villages because villages are also now in danger, so I believe my churches are cooperating well,” he stated. ‘Like the government, one of our concerns is that it should not spread to rural areas. I’m very much complying with the government directives about where we should be right now,” the church leader added. However, he claimed that some churches which have been holding prayer meetings were not under their council.

“We have to be extremely careful because we are fighting against a virus and not other things. We have to be responsible; we have to conduct ourselves as responsible as we can,” he reminded.

“We need to worship God, we need to pray, we need to give our service to God, but humanly speaking , it a foolish on our part to disobey the government and asking the congregation to come for service at a time’ when the disease (Covid) is taking toll of human lives, said Rev. Fr. Carolus Neisalhou Kuotsu, vicar general of Kohima Diocese.

‘It is foolish on our part at this moment to congregate ourselves for any worship as the disease is communicable from person to person,’ he reiterated while asserting that the second wave of Covid-19 has inflicted many people and taken away lives. “So we can’t take things lightly,” he said.

“It is absolutely unwise on our part at this moment to congregate or call for gathering while Covid-19 is dangerously spreading across nook and crannies,’’ he added, while reminding to bear in mind the SOPs and directives that have been given to by the government authorities.

If any urgent matter arises, Kuotsu suggested that church members and leaders can always communicate through social media platforms like Whatsapp or simply over the phone in order to avoid personal contact.

While many Catholic churches have taken to social media platforms like others to reach out to their congregation, the priest suggested that people can conduct services virtually. Kuotsu advised that those who do not know how to operate an online service can also avoid mass gathering by conducting their own service at home with their families and pray together during the prevailing situation.

Meanwhile, a citizen informed that with reports of Covid-19 spiralling in Kohima doing the rounds, she did not wish to attend Sunday service in their church and mingle with the congregation. Another citizen wondered why many churches were allowed to conduct services while the rest remained closed.

While many colonies have decided to undergo complete lockdown, there were reports on Sunday that residents were passing their colonies to attend church services in other colonies in Kohima.

Gregory Thejawhelie, deputy commissioner of Kohima and chairman of district task force on Covid-19 stated that he was not aware of people violating Covid-19 norms and attending church services in and around Kohima when this newspaper reached out to him. However, he said they would try to ascertain the situation and assured of taking “remedial measures” hoping that “everybody will understand”.

He informed that prior to the lockdown, they have even appealed to the churches to use their platforms in sensitising the public n Covid-19 issues.

Meanwhile, in the eventuality of any person passing away at a hospital, Dr. E Phyantsuthung, senior specialist of Naga Hospital Authority Kohima (NHAK) has reminded church leaders not to come to pray for the departed soul reasoning that most of the church leaders are elderly and that they don’t want to expose them to such healthcare set up which consists of “crowded places, close setting and confined spaces” which are unavoidable.

However, he advised that church leaders can facilitate a funeral service in an open space provided they maintain social distancing, wear masks and use hand sanitisers. As he spoke to this newspaper, he also stated that it is not advisable to keep calling church leaders, especially the elderly to healthcare centres to physically come and pray for the departed.

Phyantsuthung suggested that one can put their phone on speaker mode where church leaders can pray for the departed souls from their location so that they are not exposed to any possibility of contracting Covid-19.